Best Nights Sleep for Years

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:46 pm

GOOD FOR YOU ..............

Now a word of caution: regarding the "various mandibular advancement devices", if your teeth or jaw start to ache, that might be the cause.

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:53 pm

Agreed Linda.
They do take a bit of getting used to.
Pain killers for about 2 weeks is not uncommon.
But using them to stop mouth breathing you dont have to wind your jaw forward too much.

Billy

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon May 15, 2006 5:41 pm

Cool, Billy! Which mandibular device were you using on that good night?

mild6 · Post by **mild6** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:40 am

hi billy,
i want to know, too. what devices? i also want to be chinstrap free.

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Tue May 16, 2006 6:55 am

Hi All
I used the Tomed Somnoguard.
Be careful to only buy the one piece version (not the AP version).
I believe this device helps in 2 ways, with a chinstrap it pulls the jaw back making the apnoea worse and the obvious to stop mouth breathing.
Another benefit is that you can push it out with your tongue if you panic.
I did try it with a chin strap, but it was more effective and more comfortable without it.
For those of you with no knowledge of these devices, you form the shape of your mouth by putting the device in boiled water (see instructions) for a few minutes and then bite into it, thus forming the shape of your mouth. Its easier than it sounds.

Billy

needingu · Post by **needingu** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:42 pm

[quote="puffing billy"]Hi All
I used the Tomed Somnoguard.
**
I just pullled this website up . Is there anything in the States ????puhttp://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/shop/mandibula ... 970b265d47

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:05 pm

Hi All
I just had a look for the device and the only place I could find was in Canada and it was called nosnorezone.com. the only other options seemed to be on ebay or from britishsnoring.co.uk which is basically the same place.
With the exchange rate at the moment this does not seem like a good deal.
I found a similar device called snorban, which should work as well.
Although I have not tried one, a simple sports gum shield could work and would be a lot cheaper.

Billy

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Mon May 22, 2006 1:19 pm

As an update. I am still using the somnoguard but have added a chinstrap.
The following leakrate (leaks/hr in l/s) figures might help.

Pressure no somnoguard somnoguard somnoguard + chinstrap
8 0.4 0.3 0.2
13 0.5 0.5 0.3
17 1.1 0.9 0.5

The no somnoguard figure was with chinstrap.
I hope the figures dont move.

Billy

brasshopper · Post by **brasshopper** » Mon May 22, 2006 2:53 pm

There are similar devices in the US.

Go to the drugstore, and look for sports mouthguards.

What I saw on that web site is real close to what is sold in the US as a sports mouthguard, the sort that you heat in boiling water. Then you dip them in ice water for a second and you bite into them to form them, then back into the ice water to set them. Just like the ones in the video.

I had a bruxism guard made a number of years ago by a dentist (it was tension due to a medication, no longer as much of a problem because I don't take the med). Anyway, it cost $175 just for the mouthguard plus the cost for the impression and the visit. Now, they made a mold from my teeth, and then made the mouthguard on the uppers only - the lowers were smooth.

After a week, a doggy decided that this was a chew toy -- after all, daddy chewed it at night.

The doctor said $175 to replace it and no insurance help since it was too soon to replace it for wearout.

And I thought about it. I had seen the boilable mouthguards - like this one from CVS which has a case and everything for $16. They are more expensive these days.

The usual way you make them is that you bite into the top and bottom of the boiled plastic - the above link has complete fitting instuctions - this is the best for protecting your teeth during sports.

But when I made one that way, it caused a lot of side effects. So I got a plastic bag - a very heavy one made from mylar.

It was so heavy that when I bit into it, it did not deform but a little. It did not take tooth impressions.

I made a mouthguard by biting it top and bottom. Then I used that one as a guide to cut the mylar into a protective shape. I made it bigger and cut away some space in the middle to leave room for my tongue.

I re-boiled the mouthpiece, dipped it, and pushed it up, to engage my upper teeth. Then I slid the flat piece of mylar (cut to fit) onto the bottom, quickly, and bit against it - this got me a good upper impression and a gently curved bottom part.

This device worked as well as the one from the dentist and cost me about six bucks to make. $10 if you didn't want to reuse the mouthguard from the first part of the operation. $16 these days, but you would get a dog resistant case .

If I needed a device like the one that is described above (the one piece one) I would get a mouth guard or two and make my own. I would just try to get my mouth in the position I wanted it in (jaw jutting or pushed back or whatever) before biting down.

The two piece adjustable one is like nothing used for sports mouth protection with the adjustment and all. I'm not sure it is really needed - and the only one that worked for me was one that locked into the upper teeth only and was smooth on the bottom - like the original one made by the dentist.

Use a dremel to trim it and smooth it.

This is not medical advice - it is just an anecdote about a home remedy that worked for me. If you decide to do something like this and you decide that it is working for you, you probably should discuss this with your dentist before using it long term.

Best Nights Sleep for Years

mouthpiece

Go to the drugstore, look for mouthguards.